Which Teams Chances of NFL Glory Have Improved Following the Draft?

April 29, 2020Ian John

The original venue for the 2020 NFL Draft may have had to be changed, but last weekend’s 7-round draft was a rather homely, warming and emotional event. Stripped of its traditional glitz and glamour, especially during the first round, there was something more heart-warming about watching players drafted – their lives changed in an instant as one of the 32 top teams in the NFL decided that they could be good enough to earn a spot on their roster for next season as a paid professional.

With over 200 players drafted last weekend, plus an explosive Free Agency still very much still in progress, which has seen the likes of Tom Brady and Philip Rivers switch to new teams for the first time in their careers, as well as a number of top stars either re-signing with their team (as Drew Brees did with New Orleans) or handed the Franchise tag (as Derrick Henry has been at Tennessee), it promises to be an exciting few weeks as a number of unsigned top quality Free Agents seek pastures new, and Franchise tagged players seek an agreement on a contract that will see them play next season.

With the draft now over, attention is slowly starting to turn towards the forthcoming NFL season and which team or teams could be genuine Super Bowl contenders. Bet365 Sport is already offering a wide selection of future markets on the NFL including which teams will win their division and also the chances of each of the 32 teams to win the Super Bowl. In addition to this there are futures markets for both the Canadian Football League and Collegiate football in the United States too.

If interest in the UK in the potential Super Bowl champions next year is high, then it is even greater in the United States and in states where you can place a bet, you can also have a flutter on which team you think will be holding aloft the Lombardi Trophy in February 2021. If you are based in Pennsylvania then the information on the current playsugarhouse bonus code page will help you get started betting in the state.

Alternatively, Indiana’-based punters can enjoy all the best betting the Hoosier state has to offer with the latest BetRivers Affiliate Code “HOOSIERBONUS”. Once signed up you can then enjoy a wide range of sports bets on the popular site.

Free Agency – Notable Deals thus far

Free Agency began earlier in the year and there have already been a number of notable deals. We will split them into three different types. Players that have resigned with their current club, players that have been Franchise Tagged, and players that have switched from one franchise to another, usually receiving a very nice contract in the process. At the end of those lists, we will bring you details of the players that are still Free Agents and who will be looking to sign with a team over the coming weeks and months.

Re-signed

Drew Brees – QB (New Orleans Saints) – $50m for 2 years

Amari Cooper – WR (Dallas Cowboys) – $100m for 5 years

Arik Armstead – EDGE (San Francisco 49ers) – $85m for 5 years

Ryan Tannehill – QB (Tennessee Titans) – $118m for 4 years

Anthony Castonzo – OT (Indianapolis Colts) – $33m for 2 years

Franchise Tagged

Dak Prescott – QB (Dallas Cowboys)

Chris Jones – DL (Kansas City Chiefs)

J.Green – WR (Cincinnati Bengals)

Shaquil Barrett – EDGE (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Anthony Harris – S (Minnesota Vikings)

Justin Simmons – S (Denver Broncos)

Brandon Scherff – G (Washington Redskins)

Yannick Ngakoue – EDGE (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Bud Dupree – EDGE (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Joe Thuney – G (New England Patriiots)

Derrick Henry – RB (Tennessee Titans)

Hunter Henry – TE (Los Angeles Chargers)

Moved to a New Team

Tom Brady – QB – New England to Tampa Bay ($50m for 2 years)

Philip Rivers – QB – L.A.Chargers to Indianapolis ($25m for 1 year)

Chris Harris – CB – Denver to LA Chargers ($20.25m for 2 years)

Jameis Winston – QB – Tampa Bay to New Orleans (Contract unknown)

Byron Jones – CB – Dallas to Miami ($82.5m for 5 years)

Cory Littleton – LB – LA Rams to Las Vegas ($36m for 3 years)

Teddy Bridgewater – QB – New Orleans to Carolina ($63m for 3 years)

Jack Conklin – OT – Tennessee to Cleveland ($42m for 3 years)

Dante Fowler – EDGE – LA Rams to Atlanta Falcons ($48m for 3 years)

Rob Gronkowski – TE – Retirement to Tampa Bay (Contract Unknown)

Still a Free Agent

Jadeveon Clowney – EDGE (formerly Houston Texans)

Logan Ryan – CB – (formerly Tennessee Titans)

Jason Peters – OT – (formerly Philadelphia Eagles)

Eli Apple – CB – (formerly New Orleans Saints)

Marcus Golden – EDGE – (formerly New York Giants)

The 2020 NFL Draft Review

Joe Burrow of LSU was the first of 255 selections in the 2020 NFL Draft, with the Cincinnati Bengals taking the quarterback with the first pick of the draft. Three quarterbacks went in the first six picks this year with Miami taking Tua Tagovailoa from Alabama and the LA Chargers finding Philip Rivers replacement in Justin Herbert from Oregon.

Experts seem to feel that most teams came out of the draft pretty well, although many feel that Green Bay’s selections were some of the more questionable. Baltimore were one of a number of teams to have been an A-rating by many NFL experts, and it will be unsurprising to see the Ravens as one of the more favoured teams to be Super Bowl contenders this season when we take a look at the betting markets for it below.

Who wins Super Bowl LV?

A quick look at the odds provided by bet365 Sport (and correct as of 10.30am on Wednesday 29th April 2020) shows that the bookmakers cannot separate two teams as favourites to win the Super Bowl next year. Last year’s winners, the Kansas City Chiefs are joint favourites with another AFC outfit, the Baltimore Ravens, who are thought to be even stronger after a good Free Agency and a stellar draft.

Outside of the top two, things look very even with even the biggest odds outsiders (Jacksonville, Cincinatti and Washignton) all just 100/1 shots. This does tend to suggest that this could well be one of the most unpredictable NFL seasons in many years, especially when you consider some of the roster moves already made in this off-season period.

Tampa Bay have seen their odds slashed to just 11/1 after signing Brady and Gronkowski to their team, while the 49ers are 8/1. Drew Brees returning to the Saints sees them at 11/1, while the Cowboys are 16/1, the Packers, Eagles and new-look Patriots are 18/1. Buffalo are a good shout at 20/1 as they are a young and improving team, but my money is going on the Tennessee Titans at 25/1 who reached the AFC Championship game last year and who have made solid moves during the offseason.